The AFC West Just Got a Lot Scarier - It Has Nothing to Do With Patrick Mahomes
For months, the injury storyline that has dominated the NFL, and specifically the AFC West, has been Patrick Mahomes‘ knee.
The torn ACL and LCL he suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers in mid-December required surgery the next day, and the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Justin Fields to potentially be their Week 1 starter should Mahomes not be ready to go.
But this past week, another storyline dominated the division: the health of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.
At Denver’s mandatory minicamp, Nix, limited all spring while rehabbing a fractured right ankle, took a clear step forward, advancing to 7-on-7 drills by Wednesday’s session. Head coach Sean Payton delivered the clearest sign yet of where things stand afterward, saying Nix will “clearly be ready” for training camp.
After two surgeries this offseason, including an April procedure to address bone spurs, that’s exactly the kind of update Broncos fans have been waiting for, and opposing teams’ fans should be scared of.
More news: This Chargers Receiver Could Be the Biggest Breakout Candidate of 2026
More news: Stefon Diggs Labeled a ‘No-Brainer' Fit for AFC West Contender
Nix broke his ankle in the second-to-last play of overtime in Denver’s Divisional Round win over Buffalo, forcing him to miss the AFC Championship Game, which the Broncos lost 10-7 to New England. That injury arguably cost the Broncos a trip to the Super Bowl, and put his availability for Week 1 of the 2026 season immediately in doubt.
Before the injury, Nix was enjoying another strong season. He had thrown for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions on 63.4% completion, while rushing for another 356 yards and five touchdowns. He led the Broncos to a 14-3 record, winning the franchise’s first AFC West title since 2015 and earning the conference’s No. 1 seed.
That’s why a healthy Nix is such a big deal. With a core built around stars like Patrick Surtain, Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto, Garett Bolles, J.K. Dobbins, Courtland Sutton, and the recently acquired Jaylen Waddle, this is a team that’s built to win now, and last year proved it. They were one win away from the Super Bowl, and a healthy Nix may have been enough to win the whole thing.
The rest of the AFC should be sweating. Mahomes is racing the clock to get the Chiefs back to the top of the mountain. Justin Herbert and the Chargers are gunning for the top spot again. And the Las Vegas Raiders just handed the keys to the franchise to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza under new coach Klint Kubiak, who just helped Seattle win a Super Bowl.
This is a division with four teams that all view themselves as contenders, and with Nix a full go, the Broncos might be the scariest of them all.
More news: Commanders Urged to Add 8-Time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver for Jayden Daniels
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 5:52 PM.